Castello Frangipane or Torre Orsini
The settlement of Marino is signalled for the first time as castrum in a 1230 act where the Monks of Grottaferrata gave Graziano Frangipane's widow, Giacoma dei Normanni, a property near the Castrum Morini. The Frangipanes take over the Castle in 1237 and keep it until 1253 when under the Pontificate of lnnocenzo IV it is handed over to the Heritage of the Monasteries of San Saba in Rome and Santa Maria in Grottaferrata. In 1266 Cardinal Giovanni Orsini, procurator of the San Saba Convent, gives the castle to his nephew Cardinal Matteo Rubuo Orsini. From this moment for more than a century it is under the control of the Orsinis who only for short periods of time are compelled to give its control to the Roman Church, The conspiracy by Napoleone Orsini against Boniface VIII was plotted in the Castle of Marino. During the Tribunate of Cola di Rienzo it was the reference point of Roman barons against him. In this period the Castle was gaining an even more outstanding power, thus relying above all on an increasing population. Like many other castles in the Lazio region, it was the centre for fights among various lords: the Frangipanes, the Pierleonis, the Corsis, the Colonnas and the Papal power. In 1408 the Castle was in the hands of Ladislao, king of Naples, who gave it in fiefdom to the Colonnas as a reward for the help received by them in the war against the Pope. Since then we can say that, apart from some exceptions, the settlement was continuously controlled by the Colonnas who kept its ownership until 1916 when they gave in perpetual lease the palace, park and village to the Marino local authorities and started the sale of the territory to small and medium owners.

The territory
Since the prehistoric age the territory of Marino was inhabited by latin population settled there about three thousand years ago around the lakes and on the high grounds of Monti Albani. Of some inhabited centres belonging to the Latin League, the names from ancient historians have been handed over: Bovillae (Frattocchie), Mugilla (Santa Maria delle Mole) and Ferentum (Marino), in the woods of which at the spring of Nymph Ferentina, the Feriae Latinae took place, the annual general assembly of the 47 confederate cities which had Albalonga as the capital. During the civil war between Mario and Silla; the latter, winner, imposed a military presence in the area. Therefore the Castrimoenium, Oppidum or fortified city, was born where Marino is developed. After a long period of decadence between IX and X century the long feudal story of the city begins. On the old nucleus the Castle of Conti di Tuscolo is settled, later handed over to the Orsinis and from them to the Colonnas who owned it until 1816. The Fontana dei Mori (the Fountain of Moors) in the square of the town testifies the capture and deportation of slaves by Mark Antony Colonna after the victory against the Turks in Lepanto.

Basilica Collegiata S. Barnaba Apostolo
The Basilica dates back to the XVII century and is situated near the Palazzo Comunale. The Church has got a Baroque façade with moulds in peperino on which it is possible to read the inscription of Cardinal Girolamo Colonna with the date of the building opening. In the two smaller doors are two niches with the statues of the Protector Saints of Marino: San Barnaba and Santa Lucia. Also the inside is of Baroque style. The feast of San Barnaba has been celebrated since 1619, on June 11. There is a procession along the town streets and the Saint's arm, a relic kept in the basilica, is shown.

Chiesa di S. Maria delle Grazie
Among the oldest churches in Marino, connected to the former Convent of Augustinians, it dates back to the XV century. Inside is a fresco by Florentine painter Benozzo Bozzoli and a wood sculpture from the Neapolitan school representing San Nicola da Tolentina. In the second chapel on the left side is a canvas representing San Rocco by Domenichino (1581-1641).

Museo Civico Umberto Mastroianni
Inaugurated in 2000, it is in the former church of Santa Lucia and has the collection of the Antiquarium Comunale which was situated in the Room of Popes of Palazzo Colonna. There are many remains of the Protohistoric Roman and Medieval age and a considerable collection of deeds under the seal of notaries starting from the XVI century. The purpose of the new structure is to become a centre for the dissemination of the historical, artistic local heritage through meetings, exhibitions and guided tours not only inside the museum but also in the most interesting sites of the historical centre and the surrounding territory.
For further information call 0039 06 9385681

Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune)
Known also as Fountain of the Horse, it was carved by Sicilian artist Michele Tripisciano in 1889 and represents the Triton that keeps by the reins a sea horse with abundant waterjets like waves at its base.
At the two ends is the coat of arms of the city surmounted by a crown and with shell-shaped tubs for collecting drinking water at its base.

Mitreo
The sanctuary situated in a gallery shows on the back wall the painting of Mithras at the entrance of a grotto who is about to cut the throat of a white bull. The god has the head turned to the left towards the Sun, on the other side is the Moon. At the bottom it is possible to see a dog and a snake drinking blood and a scorpion stinging the bull's testicle. At the bottom on the left is Càutes with a raised lit torch, whereas on the right is Cautòpates with a lowered put out torch. Four scenes for each side tell the most significant phases of the myth, on the left: 1) Fight against Jupiter and the Giants; 2) Saturn lying down; 3) The birth of Mithras by a rock; 4) Mithras rides the white bull. On the right 5) Mithras pulls the bull by the rear paws to the grotto; 6) Mithras initiates the Sun to mysteries; 7) The two divinities shake their right hands, thus becoming allies, 8) Mithras makes water gone out of a rock. In front of the painting is a cippus in peperino with an inscription which refers to the slaves of the peperino caves in that area.

Marcantonio Colonna
The most famous of the Colonnas, Ascanio and Giovanna d'Aragona's son, winner of the 1571 Battle of Lepanto ai the command of the Papal forces, he lived for a long time with his family in Marino where he came back on 4 November 1571 after returning from Lepanto, before triumphantly entering into Rome on December 4. His triumphant entrance is remembered at every Feast of the Grapes (Sagra dell'Uva) with a historical cortege.

___________________________________________________

< Home